Audi R8's First Top-Ten Rolex Series Finish - Web Exclusive

APR Motorsport fought back to record their best result yet.

APR Motorsport is completely new to Grand-Am racing, and chances are you’ve never competed in something as intense as Grand-Am, so you’d have no idea how hard it is to just avoid damage and actually finish a race.

APR Motorsport in their No. 51 Audi R8 Grand-Am started in ninth position at the 2012 Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series at the Montreal 200 at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve on Saturday afternoon.

Between drivers Dr. Jim Norman and Dion von Moltke, APR Motorsport suffered some damage, worked through it and were able to gain back their position and finish the race ninth, which marked their first ever top-ten finish in the Rolex Series.

"It was a really tough race as Montreal is a very mentally demanding race track," said von Moltke. "You really have no room for error and for the last 45 minutes I was pushing like it was qualifying to close the gap to the Mazda in front of us. I was able to get right on his rear bumper on the final lap but I just used up the tires too much trying to get there that I had nothing left to really challenge him through the final few corners. Once again our guys were awesome in the pits which really allowed us to finally crack the top-ten."

"We have made tremendous progress this year developing the Audi so it is competitive under the Grand Am rules package," said Norman. "The team has been working very hard to find every possible way to make the car handle better and thus move up the time sheets. We are back to work and expect an even better result at Laguna!"

The next round of the Rolex Series and the Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge will be September 7-9, at the Continental Tire Sports Car Festival at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca in Salinas, Calif.